Henderson County to resume issuing WIC vouchers

Published: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 10:28 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 10:28 a.m.

The WIC program at the Henderson County Health Department will resume issuing food benefit vouchers to all categories of participants, according to a health department news release.

Applicants who were placed on the waiting list will be mailed vouchers today (Friday, Oct. 11). Clients should keep their appointments and continue using vouchers, the release states.

The WIC program provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition education for almost 264,000 women, infants and young children in North Carolina, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

DHHS notified local WIC directors Thursday evening that the agency had secured additional funds to continue the WIC program through October.

In a news release issued today, DHHS officials said they could assure the stability of the WIC program through the end of October by using lapsing funds from the previous fiscal year, additional contingency funds from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and product rebates from WIC formula manufacturer Nestle Foods.

"By securing sufficient funds, we are able to continue supporting the women and children who depend on WIC," Secretary Aldona Wos state in the release. "Our state is one of the highest volume states for the WIC program so we take the impact of the shutdown very seriously."

In response to the federal government shutdown, the issuance of WIC vouchers was suspended on Tuesday because DHHS did not have sufficient funds to issue new vouchers.

"Because of the uncertainty of the federal shutdown, we know this may only be a temporary solution," Wos said. "But we are committed to meeting the needs of the people of North Carolina."

The WIC Program has an annual budget of $205 million. WIC also impacts more than 2,000 local grocery stores and other food businesses around the state.

The Henderson County Department of Public Health will announce changes if they become necessary. Updates will be posted on the department's website: www.hendersoncountync.org/health.

<p>The WIC program at the Henderson County Health Department will resume issuing food benefit vouchers to all categories of participants, according to a health department news release. </p><p>Applicants who were placed on the waiting list will be mailed vouchers today (Friday, Oct. 11). Clients should keep their appointments and continue using vouchers, the release states.</p><p>The WIC program provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutrition education for almost 264,000 women, infants and young children in North Carolina, according to a news release from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.</p><p>DHHS notified local WIC directors Thursday evening that the agency had secured additional funds to continue the WIC program through October. </p><p>In a news release issued today, DHHS officials said they could assure the stability of the WIC program through the end of October by using lapsing funds from the previous fiscal year, additional contingency funds from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and product rebates from WIC formula manufacturer Nestle Foods.</p><p> </p><p>"By securing sufficient funds, we are able to continue supporting the women and children who depend on WIC," Secretary Aldona Wos state in the release. "Our state is one of the highest volume states for the WIC program so we take the impact of the shutdown very seriously."</p><p> </p><p>In response to the federal government shutdown, the issuance of WIC vouchers was suspended on Tuesday because DHHS did not have sufficient funds to issue new vouchers.</p><p> </p><p>"Because of the uncertainty of the federal shutdown, we know this may only be a temporary solution," Wos said. "But we are committed to meeting the needs of the people of North Carolina."</p><p>The WIC Program has an annual budget of $205 million. WIC also impacts more than 2,000 local grocery stores and other food businesses around the state.</p><p>The Henderson County Department of Public Health will announce changes if they become necessary. Updates will be posted on the department's website: www.hendersoncountync.org/health.</p>